Gas pilot control



N0V- 5, 1934- J. A. PERRY r-:T AL 1,980,085

v GAS VPlLoT CONTROL Filed July 24, 1933 in i Patented Nov. 6, 1934 GAS PILOT CONTROL Joseph A. Perry, Swarthmore, and Edward J.

Brady, Lansdowne, Pa.; Adele S. Brady, administratrix of said Edward J. Brady, deceased, assignors to The United Gas Improvement Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 24, 1933, Serial No. 681,937 e Claims. (c1. 15s- 115) burner bar, burner, and pilot light of a gas range, and

Figure 8 illustrates the apparatus of Figure 3 employed in conjunction with a ash back igniter, burner bar, burner and pilot light of a gas range. Referring to Figure 1, 1 generally indicates a cylindrical member provided with the male thread 2 and tightly enclosed by the sleeve 3 which may be shrunk on to the member 1 so that it tightly contacts with the tops of the threads and provides a long helical passage 4, between the threads. The sleeve is provided with ports 5L 6, 7, 8, 9 and l0 registering withturns of the passage 4. The sleeve is slidably arranged within the cylindrical bore of the tube 11. Packing rings such as 12 may be provided between ports to prevent undesired bypassing of the gas. The tube 11 is provided with the internal slot 13, arranged to uncover ports in the sleeve depending on theposition of the sleeve within the tube. 14 is a guide slot in the tube, in which slides the guide 15 which is fastened to the sleeve. 'I'he threaded lug 16 is adapted to be connected to a source of gas supply, and is provided with the inlet passage 17 communicating with the interior of the tube 11, and thence with one end of the passage 4. The slot 13'communicatesV through ports in the sleeve with turns in the passage 4 depending on the position of the sleeve and through the interior of the tube 11 with the pipe 18 leading to the pilot burner (not shown). 'I'he member 1 and the sleeve 3 form a piston which may be moved within the tube 11 by the rod 20 which passes through the plug 21 threaded into the end of the tube. 22 generally indicates a stuing box provided with packing 23 and gland 24. 25 is a set screw to secure the rod and piston in the desired position.

The present invention relates to gas pilot lights and other gas burners consuming gas at relatively low rates.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a readily adjustable means for controlling the flow of gas to pilots and such burners as 'will not be liable to stoppage from gummy and res- -inous or other materials in the gas. Presently employed needle valves are very liable to such stoppage which is the cause of considerable expense to companies distributing gas and is a source of danger to the consumers.

In the copending application of Brady and Fulweiler, Ser. No. 667,647, filed April 24, 1933, there is described an improved gas ow control for pilots by providing a long helical passage through which the gas flows on the way to the pilot burner and which has a Width and depth very many times the Width of present needle valve orifices when adjusted for the same flow under the same conditions and which has been proven by test to be very much less liable to stoppage than the needle valve controls.

'I'he present invention likewise makes use of a long helical passage for the gas which may be in the form of a screw thread.

The invention will be described in connection with the attached figures which form a part of this specification and which show forms of the invention chosen for illustration and in which- Figure 1 shows chiefly in cross section a form of the invention in which the long flow controlling passage 1 for the gas is provided by a male thread enclosed in a ported sleeve slidable in an enclosing bore for adjustment of the effective length of the passage.

Figure 2 shows chiey in cross section a second form of the invention, in which the flow controlling passage for the gas is provided by a female `thread surrounding a ported sleeve in which a piston is slidably arranged for adjusting the effective length of the passage.

Figure Sshows chiefly in cross section, a modification of the apparatus of Figure 2, in which the ports in the sleeve are arranged in a helical pattern and the piston is replaced by a tapered and slotted cock plug.

Figure 4 shows a cross section of the cock plug of Figure 3 along the line 4--4 in Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows a cross section of the sleeve of Figure 3 in the same plane as in Figure 3.

Figure 6 shows a cross section of the sleeve in Figure 4 along the line 6-6 in Figure 5.

Figure 7 illustrates the apparatus of Figure 3 employed in conjunction with a torch vigniter.'

the gas passes from the supply through the inlet passage 17 and the interior of tube 11 to the end of the helical passage 4 and thence through the passage to the port 8, which leads to the bypass slot 13, through slot 13 to the interior of the tube at the outlet -end of the piston and thence through pipe 18 to the pilot burner. If it is desred to increase the gas flow the set screw 25 is loosened and the piston is moved toward the outlet end of the tube, the slot 13 uncovering ports 7, 6 or 5 depending on the flow desired, and increasing the ow by decreasing the length of the helical passage through which the gas is required to travel. If it is desired to decrease the gas flow, the piston is moved toward the inlet end C Qvrng successive previously uncovered ports In operation in the piston position illustrated,

and decreasingl the gas 4idowby increasing the length of the helical passage through which the gas must travel.

Referring to Figure 2, 30 is a tube provided with the female thread 31 and tightly enclosing the sleeve 32 on which it may be shrunk. The sleeve 'is provided with ports indicated as 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38, registering with turns of the helical passage 39 formed between the screw threads and the sleeve and communicating with the interior of thek sleeve if permitted to do so by the position of the piston 40 which is slidable within the sleeve as actuated by the rod 41, which passes through the plug which is threaded into the end of the sleeve. 43 generally indicates a stufling box provided with the packing 44 and the gland 45. 46 is a set screw to secure the position of the piston. The piston maybe provided with packing rings one of which is indicated at 47 to prevent undesired bypassing between ports on the sleeve. 48 is a nut threaded on the sleeve and abutting'the end of the tube 30 to prevent leakage out of the apparatus between the sleeve and the tube.

'I'he tube is provided with the gas inlet passage 49 which may be provided in the threaded lug 50 adapted to be connected to a source of gas supply (not shown). The passage 49 is in communication with one end of the helical passage 39. The other end of the helical passage may be arranged to communicate through port 38 with the interior of the sleeve which is in open communication with the interior of the tube 30 and thence with the outlet pipe 51 leading to the pilot burner (not shown). In operation (in the piston position illustrated) gas passes from the source of supply through passage 49 to the helical passage 39 and through it to the port 36 1 in sleeve 32, ports 33, 34 and 35 being covered by the piston 40, from the port 36 the gas flows through the interiors of the sleeve and tube to the gas outlet pipe 51 and thence to the pilot burner. If it is desired to increase the iiow of gas the effective length of the helical passage is decreased by moving the piston 40 toward the inlet end and uncovering port 35, or ports 35 and 34, or ports 35,Y 34 and 33, as desired, reducing the'length of helical passage through which the gas is required to pass. If it is desired to decrease the gas flow, the piston is moved toward the outlet and covering additional ports and requiring the gas to travel further through the helical passage. Movement of the piston beyond port 38, closes communication between the passage 39 and the outlet and serves as a shut o.

Referring to Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, 60 indicates a tube provided with a female screw thread 6l, andenclosed tightly a sleeve 62 upon which it may be shrunk. The sleeve is provided with a tapered bore, into which is tted the similarly tapered turnable plug 63. The sleeve is also provided with ports, indicated as 64, and 65, 66, 67, 68, and 69 (all shown dotted in Figure 6) which register with turns of the helical passage 70 formed by the thread 61 and the sleeve 62, and which are arranged in the sleeve in a helical pattern, so that they may be registered individually with the slot 7l, provided in the plug 63, depending on the position into which the plug is rotated with respect to the sleeve. The tube 60 is provided with the inlet passage 72 which may be arranged in the threaded lug 73 adapted tobe connected to a source of gas supply. 'I'he inlet passage 72 is in communication with one end of the helical passage 70. The slot 71 is in communication with the ulterior of the tube 60 beyond the end of the sleeve 62 and thence is in communication with the outlet pipe 74 leading to the pilot burner (not shown) One end of sleeve 62 is provided with the female thread 75 into which is screwed the nut 76, which forces the plug 63 tightly into the tapered bore of the sleeve. The sleeve may be also threaded at 77 to engage the nut 78 which is screwed into abutment against the end of the tube 60 to prevent leakage between the tube and sleeve, though this will usually not be necessary, especially if the tube is shrunk on over the sleeve. The stem 79 passes through the nut 76 and serves for turning the plug.

In operation, in the plug position shown in Figure 3, gas passes from the source of supply through the inlet passage 72 to the helical passage 70 and through it to the port 67 which is registered with the slot 71. From the port it ows through the slot into the interior of the tube 60 and through the gas outlet pipe 74 to the pilot burner (not shown). If it is desired to increase the ow of gas the plug `is rotated counter-clockwise and registered with either port '66, 65 or 64 depending upon the increase in flow desired, the registry with these ports decreasing the eiective length of the helical passage successively in the order named. If it is desired to shut off the gas-from the pilot burner completely the plug is in position so that the slot lies between ports of the sleeve and does not register with them.

Referring to Figure 7, this iigure shows the apparatus of Figure 3 in connection with a torch igniter and a range burner an'd pilot light. The apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 may be substituted in Figure 7 for that of Figure 3. 80 is the burner bar of a gas range, 8l generally indicates the pilot control of Figure 3, the gas inlet of which is connected to the burner bar. 82A generally indicates a well known torch ow valve device of the push button type the gas inlet of which is connected to the burner bar and the outlet of which is connected by pipe 83 to the pilot burner indicated as 84. 85 indicates a range burner supplied with gas from the burner bar through the pipe 86 as controlled by cock 87.

The outlet pipe 74 of the control device 8l is connected to the pipe 83 so that the control device and its gas inlets and outlets form a bypass to the pilot burner around the torch valve device 82. 88 indicates the push button of the torch flow device 82. Y

In operation gas constantly passes from the burner bar through the control device 81 to the pilot burner 84 maintaining the pilot ame. When the burner 85 is to be ignited, gas is admitted to the burner ports by openingcock 87 at the same time the valve of the torch ow device 82 is opened by pushing the push button 88,) and a larger ow of gas is admitted to the pilot burner through pipe 83 than passes through the bypass formed by the control 81, producing a torch flame which is projected to the ports of burner 85 igniting the gas issuing from them. The push button is then released closing the torch flow valve. The small quantity of gas required to maintain the pilot flame continues to bypass to the pilot burner through the control device.

. 4 Referring to Figure 8, 80 indicates the burner 1 while its gas outlet pipe 74 leads to the pilot burner 92. 93 indicates a range burner supplied with gas from the burner bar through pipe 94 as controlled by cock 95. 96 is an ignition tube leading from the pilot burner 92 to the range burner 93.

In operation a small ilow of gas continuously passes from the burner bar through the control device 91 to the pilot burner 92 and maintains the small pilot ame. When the/burner 93'is to be ignited, the cock 95 is opened and gas supplied to the burner through pipe 94. The gas from a few of the burner ports passes through the ignition tube 96 to the pilot burner 92, ignites and iiashes back igniting the gas issuing from the other ports of burner 93.

The control devices of the invention have been particularly described in connection with gas range pilot lights, they are capable of application in a variety of other gas appliances such as Water heaters, furnaces, etc. They are also capable of use in connection with gas refrigerators in which a small gas flame is maintained which is augmented in response to the demand of the cooling load. In such use the hand adjustment is dispensed with and the pistons of Figures 1 and 2 and the plug of Figure 3 are actuated by thermostatic devices which vary the adjustment in response tothe demand of the cooling equipment. In this case the slot of the plug of Figure 3 and the ports in the sleeve should be arranged so that at least one port is always uncovered by the slot.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates that modications may be made in details of construction and arrangement and matters of mere form without departing from the spirit of the invention which is not limited to such matters, or otherwise than the prior art and the appended claims may require.

1. A valve for a gas pilot light, comprising the combination of nested elements having between them a tightly fitting spiral thread providing a spiral gas way, one of said elements provided with ports communicating with successive turns of the spiral gas way, means for introducing gas to the spiral gas way, a gas outlet including a passage arranged for communication with the respective ports, and a movable member for effectl ing communication between the respective ports and the passage.

2. A valve for a gas pilot light, comprising the combination of, an outer sleeve, nested inner elements having between them a tightly fitting spiral thread providing a spiral gas way and one of said elements provided with ports communicating with successive turns of the spiral gas way, said youter sleeve having a gas inlet to the spiral gas way and an outlet including a passage for communication with the respective ports, and said nested elements being slidable in the outer sleeve.

3. A valve for a gas pilot light, comprising the' combination of three nested elements, a thread tightly tted between two of said elements and providing a spiral gas way, one of said elements being provided with ports communicating respectively with progressive turns of the thread, a gas intake to the thread, and a gas offtake having a passage arranged for communication with said ports, and at least one of said elements being movable to cover and uncover said ports in respect to said passage.

4. A valve for a gas-pilot light, comprising the combination of an outer sleeve having a gas inlet and a gas outlet and provided with a gas passage, and a piston element movable in the sleeve communicating with the gas inlet and also provided with ports from the successive turns of the` spiral gas way and arranged to communicate with the gas passage according to the position of the piston element.

5. A valve for a gas pilot light, comprising the combination of a hollowA cylindrical body provided with a gas outlet and provided in its wall with a tight spiral gas way having in its respective turns ports to the interior of the body and having an inlet port thereto, and a piston movable in the body for covering and uncovering said ports.

6. A valve for a gas pilot light, comprising the combination of a hollow cylindrical body provided with a gas outlet and provided in its Wall with a tight spiral gas way having in its respective tunis ports to the interior of the body and 

